Pelargonium plant named ‘Fipelmamboimp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Fipelmamboimp’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; large semi-double red-colored flowers held above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIPELMAMBOIMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum,commercially referred to as Zonal Geranium and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Fipelmamboimp’.

The new Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new compact and freely-floweringPelargonium plants that flower early and have attractive leaf and flowercoloration.

The new Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in September, 2005 in De Lier, The Netherlands of twounidentified proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, notpatented. The new Pelargonium plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in DeLier, The Netherlands, in March, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands, since July, 2007 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Pelargonium have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fipelmamboimp’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Fipelmamboimp’ as a new and distinctPelargonium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; rounded plant        habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large semi-double red-colored flowers held above and beyond        the foliar plane on strong peduncles.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in plant habit as plants of the new Pelargonium are moreuniform than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium×hortorum ‘Amri Trared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.20,245. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Pelargonium differed primarily fromplants of ‘Amri Trared’ in flower color as plants of the new Pelargoniumhad lighter red-colored flowers than plants of ‘Amri Trared’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Pelargonium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Fipelmamboimp’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 28°C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. Plants were tenweeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In thedetailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fipelmamboimp’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 16 days            at temperatures of 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 21 days            at temperatures of 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; greyed white            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading            growth habit; rounded and uniformly mounded plant habit;            densely foliated; about six basal branches developing per            plant; moderate growth rate; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 45 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm to 19 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm to 7 mm. Internode length: About 0.5 cm to 5 cm.            Texture: Pubescent. Strength: Moderately strong. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 3 cm to 6 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; pubescence more            dense along venation.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147A; venation, close to 146C. Zonation pattern:            Location: Center of the leaf. Width: About 2.5 cm. Color:            Close to 178A slightly tinged with green.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to            3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;            umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles;            flowers face upright to outwardly depending on position on            the umbel.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 54 to 60            flowers developing per umbel and about ten to twelve umbels            developing per plant.        -   Flowering season.—In The Netherlands, flowering is            continuous from late spring until frost in the autumn; early            flowering habit, plants begin flowering about eight to ten            weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Depending on environmental conditions,            individual flowers last about 2 to 14 days on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm by 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower buds, prior to anthesis.—Length: About 2 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Globular to elliptical. Color:            Close to 45B.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six to eight. Length:            About 2.9 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Spatulate to            obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate: Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Brighter and darker than 46A; color does not fade            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 46C; color does not fade with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About one or two. Length:            About 1 cm to 2 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 10 mm. Shape:            Roughly obovate to oblanceolate. Apex: Roughly obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Brighter than 46A with            occasional white-colored stripe; color does not fade with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 46C with occasional white-colored stripe; color            does not fade with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate/ovate to acicular. Apex: Acute. Base: Lobate to            truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B;            towards the base, close to 60B. Color, lower surface: Close            to 146B; towards the margins, close to 60B.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13 cm to 14 cm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to            about 30° C. from vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close            to 146B.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm to            2.7 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Angle: Erect to about 60° C. from vertical. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 178A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About six to eight. Filament length: About 2 mm to 5 mm.            Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther length: About 2 mm to            3 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 39A.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 33B.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:            About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Tapering; reflexed. Stigma color:            Close to 60A. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close            to N144B. Ovary color: Close to 146C.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Pelargonium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Pelargoniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been observed    to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to    about 45° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Pelargonium plant named‘Fipelmamboimp’ as illustrated and described.